Image processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus includes an input unit for inputting an image signal representing an original image, a processing unit for performing image processing of the image signal input from the input unit, and a recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium on the basis of the image signal subjected to the image processing by the processing unit. The processing unit performs rotation processing of the image signal in accordance with the shapes of the original image and the recording medium.

This application is a continuation-in-part continuation application Ser.No. 07/644,622, filed Jan. 23, 1991, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which canexecute processing, e.g., rotation, of an input image obtained by, e.g.,reading an original image, and can output the processed image.

2. Related Background Art

Conventionally, when an A4-size original is enlarged and recorded on,e.g., an A3-size recording medium, or when an A3-size original isreduced and recorded on an A4-size recording medium, such imageprocessing is realized by aligning an original set direction to aconveying direction of a recording medium, or vice versa.

In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 220,936 filed by the presentapplicant on Jun. 23, 1988, when automatic variable magnificationprocessing is performed on a desired area on an original, variablemagnifications associated with the longitudinal direction and thewidthwise direction are determined in accordance with the length andbreadth of the desired area, and processing is performed, so that animage is always recorded on the entire area of a recording medium.

However, in the related art, when an operator sets an original or arecording medium or when he or she performs area designation using anarea input device (e.g., a digitizer), he or she must performdesignation in consideration of, e.g., the direction of the original.For this reason, an operation error occurs, thus obtaining a wrongoutput image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in consideration of the abovesituation, and has as its object to provide an image processingapparatus which can satisfactorily and efficiently record an originalimage on a recording medium.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an imageprocessing apparatus which can consider the shape of an original or adesignated area and the shape of a recording medium, and can record anoriginal image on a recording medium without omission and withoutforming an idle space.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an imageprocessing apparatus which can rotate and record an original image inaccordance with the direction of the original image and the direction ofa recording medium.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an imageprocessing apparatus which can satisfactorily record an original imageon a recording medium under the read or write control of a memory meansfor storing an image signal.

The above and other objects and effects of the present invention will beapparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an outer appearance of the imageprocessing apparatus;

FIGS. 3 and 22 are sectional views showing a structure of a readingunit;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the reading unit;

FIGS. 5(a) to 5(e) are charts showing read signals;

FIGS. 6 and 24 are block diagrams of a control unit;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a control sequence;

FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) and FIGS. 25(a) to 26 are views showing processingexamples;

FIG. 9 is a table showing determination results;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are block diagrams of a block cut out unit;

FIGS. 12A and 12B, FIG. 13 and FIGS. 16(a) to 16(c) are operation timingcharts of the block cut out unit;

FIG. 14 shows a block;

FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b) show block cut-out examples;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a quantizing circuit;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a structure of a printer unit;

FIG. 19 shows a memory operation;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a memory unit;

FIG. 21 is a table showing control signals; and

FIGS. 23(a) and 23(b) are views showing original detection examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedhereinafter.

FIG. 2 shows an outer appearance of an apparatus according to thisembodiment.

A reader 201 optically reads an original, converts the read originalimage into a digital signal, and performs various image processingoperations. An image memory unit 202 is connected to the reader 201 viaa communication cable 203, and stores an image signal sent through thecable 203. A printer unit 204 prints out an image on a recording mediumon the basis of an image signal. The printer unit 204 is also connectedto the image memory unit 202 via a communication cable 205.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram associated with signal flows of the overallapparatus. In the following description, blocks common to FIG. 1 aredesignated by common reference numerals.

A red/black two-color original 301 is read by a reading unit 302 of thereader 201, and is converted into a digital electrical signal. Thedigital electrical signal is subjected to various image processingoperations in an image processing unit 303. The processed image is cutout in units of 4×4 blocks by a block cut out unit 304, and the blocksare then quantized by a quantizing unit 305. The quantized blocks aresent to the image memory unit 202.

A control unit 320 supplies necessary information to the units 302 to305, and 202 in accordance with a command input by an operator.

An image signal sent from the image memory unit 202 to the printer unit204 is sent to two systems, i.e., a red image expansion unit 306 and ablack image expansion unit 307, and is respectively expanded as red andblack images. The red and black images are two-color output by an imageforming unit 308, thus obtaining an output image 309.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the reading unit 302.

The reading unit 302 comprises a transparent original table 401, and afluorescent lamp unit 403 which incorporates fluorescent lamps 404 and afirst mirror 405, and is driven by a driving motor 405 at a velocity vto scan an original 400 (to be referred "subscanning" hereinafter). Thereading unit 302 also comprises a mirror unit 406 which includes secondmirrors 407 and 408, and is driven by the driving motor 405 at avelocity 1/2v, so that optical path lengths between the original andCCDs 411 and 415 are kept constant.

A beam splitter 409 splits a light beam from the second mirror 408 intotwo beams.

One light beam split by the beam splitter 409 is focused on the CCD 411via an optical system 410, and is converted into an electrical signal.The other light beam propagates through a mirror 412 and a red lightfilter 413 for allowing only a red light component to pass therethrough,and only a light component from which red light energy is removed isfocused on the CCD 415 via an optical system 414 to be converted into anelectrical signal.

FIG. 4 shows an arrangement of the reading unit 302.

Electrical processing in the reading unit 302 shown in FIG. 4 will bedescribed below.

An output from the CCD 411 without a filter is sent to the imageprocessing unit 303 as a 6-bit video signal 422 in which black=63 andwhite=0 via an amplifier 416, a sample & hold circuit 417, and an A/Dconverter 418, and is also sent to a red determination circuit 411.

On the other hand, the CCD 415 with the red filter extracts a signalfrom which red light energy is removed and sends it as a 6-bit videosignal 423 to the red determination circuit 411 via an amplifier 419, asample & hold circuit 420, and an A/D converter 421 as in the CCD 411.

The red determination circuit 411 sends a 1-bit determination signalindicating whether or not a pixel in an original is red to the imageprocessing unit 303 in accordance with the video signal 422 from the CCD411, the video signal 423 from the CCD 415, and a determination slicelevel from a CPU 412.

FIG. 5 shows a processing content of the red determination circuit 411.FIG. 5(a) shows the original 400. A pattern designated by 501 is assumedto be a black character, and a pattern designated by 502 is assumed tobe a red character.

In this case, if a one scanning (to be referred to as "main scanning"hereinafter) line of the CCD at a given time is represented by an X-axis503, an output from the CCD 411 at this time is expressed as shown inFIG. 5(b). On the other hand, an output from the CCD 415 can be adjustedto have the same signal level of a black character as that in FIG. 5(b)by adjusting a gain and offset of the amplifier 419 and a referencevoltage of the A/D converter, as shown in FIG. 5(c).

FIG. 5(d) shows a signal obtained by subtracting a signal shown in FIG.5(c) from a signal shown in FIG. 5(b) at the above-mentioned adjustedlevel.

The signal shown in FIG. 5(d) can be considered to be a signal of only ared character. This signal is discriminated in accordance with a slicelevel set in advance by the CPU 412, thus obtaining 0 or 1 (0: not redarea, 1: red area) binary, i.e., 1-bit information.

This information will be referred to as a red/black bit hereinafter.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the control unit 320 for determining basedon information obtained from an operator whether an image is rotated andoutput, or is output as it is.

The control unit 320 comprises a CPU 1501, a console unit 1502 used bythe operator to input various commands, a digitizer 1503, serial I/Fs1504 and 1506, a motor driver 1505, the motor 405, a ROM 1507 forstoring, e.g., a program, a RAM 1508, an I/O port 1510, a lamp driver1509, the fluorescent lamps 404, and a CPU bus 1511.

The CPU 1501 executes control having an algorithm shown in FIG. 7. Instep S1, the operator inputs a command mode using the console unit 1502,the digitizer 1503, or the like. Assume that auto magnificationprocessing of an input image having a length a and a breadth b, as shownin FIG. 8(a), is performed to obtain an output image having a length cand a breadth d. In the prior art, the auto magnification processing isperformed to obtain a length of c/a and a breadth of d/b.

In this embodiment, the CPU 1501 calculates the relationships betweenthe lengths and breadths, i.e., between a and b, and between c and d ofthe input and output images (S2). As shown in FIG. 8(a), when the inputand output images have the same relationship between their lengths andbreadths, i.e., in a case of a mode 1 or 2 shown in FIG. 9, an image isnot rotated. On the other hand, when the input and output images havedifferent relationships between their lengths and breadths, as shown inFIG. 8(b), i.e., in a case of a mode 3 or 4 in FIG. 9, rotationprocessing of an image is executed (S3). Furthermore, longitudinal andwidthwise magnifications are determined depending on rotation ornon-rotation of an image, and the CPU 1501 supplies information to themotor driver 1505 and the lamp driver 1509 so that exposure scanning canbe performed at a predetermined scanning velocity and scanning distance(S4). More specifically, since a<b and c>d in FIG. 8(b), a rotation modeis set. Therefore, if the length c of the output image corresponds tothe subscanning direction, the motor 405 and the fluorescent lamps 404are controlled so that the output image has a length c/b times that ofthe input image.

The CPU 1501 also detects a paper presence/absence sensor of a cassette.When the CPU 1501 detects the absence of paper in the cassette, itchanges a paper feed cassette, and controls to rotate an output imagewith respect to an input image in correspondence with the direction ofpaper sheets in the selected paper feed cassette. More specifically,assuming that a copying machine has, e.g., A4- and A4R-size cassettes,if A4-size paper sheets are used up during A4-size copying operations,the CPU 1501 switches to the A4R-size cassette to continue the copyingoperations.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are block diagrams of the block cut out unit 304.

The block cut out unit cuts out an image sent from the image processingunit 303 into 4×4 blocks suitable for quantization.

The block cut out unit comprises a divider 1260 for frequency-dividing aCCD clock 1 1250 under the control of the CPU to generate a write clock1227, a write address counter 1201 for counting the write clocks 1227, adivider 1261 for frequency-dividing a CCD clock 2 1251 under the controlof the CPU to generate a read clock 1228, a read out address counter1202 for counting the read clocks 1228, a 1/4 divider 1203 forfrequency-dividing the read clock 1228 by 4, an address multiplexer1204, line buffers 1 to 8 1205 to 1212, a serial/parallel converter unit1213 for serial/parallel-converting image data 1229 (including onered/black bit), selectors 1 to 4 1214 to 1217, selectors 5 to 8 1218 to1221, a serial/parallel converter unit 1222 forserial/parallel-converting image data 1 to 4, a serial/parallelconverter unit 1223 for serial/parallel-converting red/black data 1 to4, an adder 1224, and a comparator 1225.

FIGS. 12A and 12B, and FIG. 13 are timing charts of the block cut outunit.

In the timing charts shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, WVSYNC represents anall write image effective period, CCDVE represents an image effectiveperiod of one main scanning line in the CCD, Selectl and Select2represent signals which are changed in every fifth CCDVE, CCDCLKrepresents an image clock of the CCD, and D1 to D4 represent image data.The image data D1 to D4 are delayed by one period of the clock CCDCLK inthe order of D1→D2→D3→D4. iBCLK corresponds to the write clock 1227obtained by frequency-dividing the clock CCDCLK by 4. D5 represents dataobtained by latching the data D1 to D4 in response to the leading edgeof the clock iBCLK. In this case, values d1 to d4 in FIG. 12B aresimultaneously latched.

In the timing chart of FIG. 13, D6 to D9 represents image data. A writeclock WCLK is obtained by dividing the clock iBCLK by 4 by the 1/4divider 1203. Data D10 is obtained by latching the data D6 to D9 inresponse to the leading edge of the clock WCLK, and pixels in a 4×4block are simultaneously latched at the timing of the clock WCLK.

The block cut out unit 304 cuts out image data into 4×4 blocks, andoutputs the blocks to the quantizing unit 305, and also performsred/black determination of the 4×4 blocks. These operations will bedescribed in detail below.

An image data write operation is performed as follows.

[1] Image data sent line by line and expressed by 7 bits/pixel(including one red/black bit) is serial/parallel-converted by theserial/parallel converter unit 1213, and the parallel data are sent tothe selectors 1 to 4 1214 to 1217. Serial/parallel conversion isperformed as indicated by D1 to D5 in FIG. 12B. More specifically, fourimage data corresponding to four successive pixels input at timings ofD1 are simultaneously output at a timing of D5.

[2] The serial/parallel-converted image data are sent to the linebuffers 1 to 4 1205 to 1208 or the line buffers 5 to 8 1209 to 1212 viathe selectors 1 to 4 1214 to 1217.

A control signal for the selectors is the signal Selectl. When thissignal is "1", write access of the line buffers 1 to 4 1205 to 1208 isperformed; when it is "0", write access of the line buffers 5 to 8 1209to 1212 is performed.

[3] As a result, write access of the line buffers is performed as shownin FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b). More specifically, data corresponding to foursuccessive pixels are written at every fifth addresses. This writeaccess is continuously executed for four successive lines. With thissystem, data having a high-speed video clock (CCDCLK) can be written ata 1/4 frequency.

[4] Write address control of the line buffers is performed by the writeaddress counter 1201 and the address multiplexer 1204. A control signalfor this multiplexer is also the signal Select1. When this signal is"1", an address on a line 1230 is output onto a line 1233, and anaddress on a line 1231 is output onto a line 1232; when it is "0", anaddress on the line 1230 is output onto the line 1232, and an address onthe line 1231 is output onto the line 1233.

[5] When an image is to be reduced, the write clocks 1227 areselectively omitted by the divider 1260. For example, in a 50% reductionmode, the CPU performs the following control. That is, as shown in FIG.16(b), one write clock VCLK1 is omitted for two 100% clocks shown inFIG. 16(a), and read clocks VCLK2 remain the same as 100% clocks shownin FIG. 16(a).

An image data read operation will be described below.

[1] Data at an address indicated by the read out address counter 1202are read out from the line buffers 1 to 4 1205 to 1208 or the linebuffers 5 to 8 1209 to 1212 to the selectors 5 to 8 1218 to 1221.

[2] The selectors 5 to 8 1218 to 1221 select data from the line buffers1 to 4 1205 to 1208 or the line buffers 5 to 8 1209 to 1212. A controlsignal for the selectors is the signal Select2. When this signal is "0",data from the line buffers 5 to 8 1209 to 1212 are selected; when it is"1", data from the line buffers 1 to 1 1205 to 1208 are selected.

The bit format of the selected image data includes 6-bit image data, andone red/black bit.

[3] The 6-bit image data 1 to 4 and 1-bit red/black data 1 to 4 areserial/parallel-converted by the serial/parallel converter units 1222and 1223, thus outputting a 4×4 block. Serial/parallel conversion isperformed, as shown in FIG. 13. More specifically, 16 pixels of theimage data input at timings of D6 are simultaneously at a timing of D10.

[4] When an image is to be enlarged, contrary to a reduction mode, theread clocks 1228 are selectively omitted by the divider 1261. Forexample, in a 200% enlargement mode, the CPU performs the followingcontrol. That is, as shown in FIG. 16(c), write clocks VCLK1 remain thesame as 100% clocks shown in FIG. 16(c), and one clock VCLK2 is omittedfor two 100% clocks shown in FIG. 16(a).

Meanwhile, red/black determination of a 4×4 block is performed in thefollowing order by an arrangement shown in FIG. 17.

[1] The red/black data 1 to 4 of the image data areserial/parallel-converted by the arrangements shown in FIGS. 10 and 11,thereby forming a 4×4 block shown in FIG. 14.

[2] "1"s in the 4×4 block are added by the adder 1224, and the additionresult is compared with a predetermined slice level 1235 by thecomparator 1225, thereby obtaining 1-bit red/black data 1237 for each4×4 block. More specifically, when the output from the adder 1224 islarger than the slice level 1235, the comparator 1225 outputs "1" as redinformation.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the quantizing unit 305.

1-bit red information for each block sent from the block cut out unit304 is directly supplied to the memory unit 202. On the other hand, a6-bit mean value M and a 4-bit standard deviation σ of video signals X₁to X₁₆ in one block are calculated by a statistic calculator 1601 asfollows: ##EQU1##

A normalizer 1602 normalizes the signals X₁ to X₁₆ using M and a by thefollowing equation:

    Z.sub.1 =(X.sub.i -m)/σ(i=1 to 16)

The normalized Z₁ to Z₁₆ are quantized to a 14-bit code Q by a vectorquantizer 1603.

M (6 bits) is DC information in a block, σ (4 bits) is AC information,and Q (14 bits) is phase information. The DC information, the ACinformation, and the phase information are sent to the memory unit 202together with R as a total of 25-bit data.

FIG. 18 shows a structure of the image forming unit 308.

In FIG. 18, the image forming unit 308 comprises a pulse widthmodulation (PWM) circuit 2301 for a red laser, a PWM circuit 2302 for ablack laser, a laser driver 2303 for the red laser, a laser driver 2304for the black laser, a red semiconductor laser 2305, a blacksemiconductor laser 2306, a red scanner 2307, a black scanner 2308, ared f-θ lens 2309, a black f-θ lens 2310, a reflection mirror 2311, aphotosensitive drum 2312, a red developing unit 2313, and a blackdeveloping unit 2314. In addition to these components, various knownmechanisms such as a cleaning mechanism for the photosensitive drum2312, a conveying mechanism of a recording medium, and the like arearranged.

Operations for forming images on the photosensitive drum by the red andblack lasers in FIG. 18 will be described below.

[1] Red Laser

A red video signal sent from a red signal decoder is D/A-converted andPWM-modulated by the red-laser PWM circuit 2301.

The obtained pulse signal is converted by the red-laser driver 2303 intoa signal for driving the red semiconductor laser 2305.

A laser beam emitted from the red semiconductor laser 2305 forms aspot-like focal point on the photosensitive drum 2312 via the redscanner 2307, the f-θ lens 2309, and the reflection mirror 2311.

[2] Black Laser

On the other hand, a black video signal sent from a black signal decoderis D/A-converted and PWM-modulated by the black-laser PWM circuit 2302.

The obtained pulse signal is converted by the black-laser driver 2304into a signal for driving the black semiconductor laser 2306.

A laser beam emitted from the black semiconductor laser 2306 forms aspot-like focal point on the photosensitive drum 2312 via the blackscanner 2308 and the f-θ lens 2310.

Since the black laser beam focal point and the red laser beam focalpoint are spatially offset from each other, if the spatial offset isrepresented by l and a process speed is represented by v, videoeffective periods of the two colors have a time offset (l/v), as shownin FIG. 18. This corresponds to the fact that a black video signal isinput l/v later after a red video signal is input in a video signalinput unit, and a radiation distance l is present between two beams onthe photosensitive drum, as shown in FIG. 18. As described above, redand black data are simultaneously written. After radiation of the laserbeams, a portion irradiated with the red laser is developed by the reddeveloping unit, and a portion irradiated with the black laser isdeveloped by the black developing unit (FIG. 18 illustrates that "Red"is developed by the red developing unit, and "Black" is developed by theblack developing unit). The obtained toner image is transferred from thephotosensitive drum 2312 onto a recording medium, and the toner image isfixed on the recording medium, thus obtaining a copy.

FIG. 20 shows an arrangement of the memory unit 202.

The memory unit 202 has a capacity capable of storing an image signalfor at least one frame, and fetches a total of 25-bit encoded imagesignal sent from the quantizing unit 305 of the reader 201. The unit 202writes the fetched image signal in a memory unit, and at the same time,outputs two kinds of signals, i.e., red and black signals read out fromthe memory element to the printer unit 204. At this time, the memoryunit 202 performs processing, e.g., rotation of an image in accordancewith an instruction from the CPU 1501.

The memory unit 202 comprises write address up counters 1701 and 1702,read address up/down counters 1703, 1704, and 1705, exchangers 1706,1707, 1708, 1709, 1710, and 1711, selectors 1712, 1713, 1714, 1715,1716, and 1717, an OR gate 1719, and memory elements 1723, 1724, 1725,and 1726.

Each of the exchangers 1706, 1707, 1708, 1709, 1710, and 1711 selects p₁→q₁, and p₂ →q₂ when S=0, and selects p₁ →q₂ and p₂ →q₁ when S=1. Eachof the selectors 1712, 1713, 1714, 1715, 1716, and 1717 selects aterminal a when S=1, and selects a terminal b when S=0.

The counter 1701 serves as a write main scanning address counter. Thecounter 1701 counts up in response to write clocks (WCLK), and iscleared when a write main scanning signal period (WVE) becomes "0".

The counter 1702 serves as a write subscanning address counter. Thecounter 1702 counts up in response to signals WVE, and is cleared when awrite subscanning signal period (WVSYNC) becomes "0".

The counters 1701 and 1702 receive synchronization signals (WCLK, WVE,and WVSYNC) from the reader 201 and counter preset data (WD₁ and WD₂)from the CPU, and respectively generate write main scanning andsubscanning addresses. These addresses are sent to the exchanger 1706.

The counters 1703, 1704, and 1705 receive synchronization signals (RCLK,RVE(R), RVSYNC(R), RVE(B), RVSYN(R)) from the printer unit 204, andcounter preset data (RD₁ and RD₂) and counter up/down selection signals(RnD₁ and RnD₂) from the CPU, and respectively generate a read mainscanning address common to red and black images, a read subscanningaddress for a red image, and a read subscanning address for a blackimage. These addresses are sent to the exchangers 1707 and 1708.

The exchanger 1706 exchanges main scanning and subscanning addresseswhen data is written in a memory. More specifically, when a signal WROTfrom the CPU is "0", the exchanger 1706 generates a read address 1720,so that the subscanning address corresponds to an upper address, and themain scanning address corresponds to a lower address. When WROT=1, theexchanger 1706 forms the read address 1720 so that the main scanningaddress corresponds to an upper address, and the subscanning addresscorresponds to a lower address.

Similarly, the exchangers 1707 and 1708 exchange main scanning andsubscanning addresses when data is read out from a memory. Morespecifically, when a signal RROT from the CPU is "0", the exchangers1707 and 1708 respectively form red and black image read addresses 1721and 1722 so that both red and black image read subscanning addressescorrespond to upper addresses, and the main scanning address correspondsto a lower address. More specifically, the signals WROT and RROT arecontrolled, as shown in FIG. 21.

The exchanger 1709 and the selector 1712 switch the read adresses 1720,1721, and 1722 in accordance with a control signal (BSL) indicating thatdata are written in memory elements M₀ and M₁ and are read out frommemory elements M₂ and M₃, or vice versa.

The exchanger 1710 is switched depending on whether a lower one bit ofan address to be input to p₁ is 0 or 1 in order to determine an odd- oreven-numbered block line, and to switch between M₀ and M₁ and between M₂and M₃. More specifically, the exchanger 1710 is switched for each blockline.

The selectors 1713 and 1714 are used to select the memory elements whendata is written. The selectors 1716 and 1717 are used when data is readout, and their outputs are sent to the corresponding expansion units asred and black image signals, respectively. The selector 1715 distributesan image signal from the reader to the memory element M₀ and M₁ or tothe memory elements M₂ and M₃.

Note that a rotation or non-rotation mode is discussed about a casewherein rotation or non-rotation processing is automatically performedin accordance with the shapes of an original image and a recordingmedium. In this case, the rotation mode can be easily canceled inaccordance with setting at the console unit using the signals WROT andRROT.

FIG. 19 shows read and write states of the image memory. The memoryelements are divided into four banks 1723 (M₀), 1724 (M₁), 1725 (M₂),and 1726 (M₃), and can be independently addressed and switched. Readaccess of the elements M₂ and M₃ can be performed during write access ofthe elements M₀ and M₁, and vice versa, thus improving copy efficiencywhen copies are obtained from a plurality of originals.

Another embodiment will be described below. In this embodiment, automagnification processing of various original sizes is performed using anapparatus comprising an automatic document feeder (ADF). In this case,assume that auto magnification processing of A3- and A4-size mixedoriginals is performed. This embodiment is almost the same as theembodiment described above, and only different portions will bedescribed below. Differences are that the ADF is arranged, and that anoriginal size is detected for each original, and whether or not anoutput image is rotated with respect to an input image is determinedbased on the detection result.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view of a reading unit. FIG. 22 is almost thesame as FIG. 3. Differences are components 402 and 2001 to 2003.

An ADF 402 sequentially feeds originals placed on an original table 399.A unit 2001 including fluorescent lamps and a mirror, a focusing lens2002, and a CCD 2003 constitute a means for detecting the size of anoriginal. With this apparatus, a main scanning size is recognizeddepending on a portion where outputs from the CCD 2003 exceed athreshold level. That is, the size can be obtained by calculating thesize of a hatched portion in FIG. 23(a) by the CPU.

On the other hand, a subscanning size can be obtained by measuring anoriginal crossing time using a sensor selected from the CCD 2003, asshown in FIG. 23(b). For example, when a paper sheet is fed at avelocity of v₀ in the subscanning direction, the subscanning size can beobtained by calculating (v₀ /(t₂ -t₁)).

FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining a control unit, and corresponds toFIG. 6. Differences from FIG. 6 are that portions (402, 1512) associatedwith the ADF 402, and an original size detector 1513 are added, andportions associated with the digitizer (1503, 1504) are omitted.

Control in this case also operates according to the algorithm shown inFIG. 7. Steps S1 and S2 are slightly different from those in FIG. 7.That is, whether or not a rotation mode is set is determined inaccordance with a mode set at a console unit, and original sizedetection information. More specifically, when an original size is an A3size, an image is output in a non-rotation mode, and when it is an A4size, the image is output in a rotation mode.

When auto magnification processing of A3 and A4 mixed originals is to beperformed in a conventional system, A4 originals must be set in the ADFin correspondence with a convey direction of A3-size recording media, asshown in FIG. 25(a). However, according to this embodiment, A4 originalscan be placed regardless of a convey direction of the recording media,as shown in FIG. 25(b).

According to the arrangements of the embodiments described above, thefollowing effects 1 to 3 can be obtained.

1 Improved Throughput

1 When enlargement 1 in FIG. 26 is performed in 3→5, since a timerequired for scanning an original can be shorted, a throughput can beimproved.

2 When reduction 2 in FIG. 26 is performed in 6→4, the subscanningdirection of an output original can be shortened, and a throughput canbe improved.

2 Improved Operability

Since main scanning and subscanning addresses are automatically reversedin accordance with the lengths and breadths of input and output imagesto output an image, an operation error of an operator can be eliminated,thus improving operability.

3 When originals having various original sizes are coped with in an automagnification mode using an ADF, an RDF, or the like, a skew oforiginals caused by a difference in main scanning length can beprevented.

As described above, in an image processing apparatus comprising a readerunit for inputting an image signal, and a printer unit for recording animage on a recording medium on the basis of the image signal, the imagesignal input from the reader unit is subjected to rotation processing,the processed image signal is supplied to the printer unit, and therotation processing is controlled in accordance with the shape of animage expressed by the image signal input from the reader unit and theshape of a recording medium subjected to image recording by the printerunit. Therefore, an operator can satisfactorily perform image recordingregardless of the shapes, convey states, and the like of an original anda recording medium.

The arrangements of the preferred embodiments of the present inventionhave been described above. However, the present invention is not limitedto these arrangements, and various changes and modifications may be madewithin the scope of claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus comprising:documentfeeding means for feeding a document; input means for inputting an imagesignal representing an original image of the document; first determiningmeans for determining a first relationship between a length and abreadth of the original image by feeding the document by said documentfeeding means, the first relationship being dependent upon whether thelength of the original image is longer than the breadth of the originalimage; processing means for performing image processing of the imagesignal input from said input means; recording means for recording animage on a recording medium on the basis of the image signal subjectedto the image processing by said processing means; and second determiningmeans for determining a second relationship between a length and abreadth of the recording medium, the second relationship being dependentupon whether the length of the recording medium is longer than thebreadth of the recording medium, wherein said processing means performsrotation processing of the image signal in accordance withdeterminations made by said first determining means and said seconddetermining means, such that said processing means performs rotationprocessing of the image signal in a case where the first relationship isdifferent from the second relationship and does not perform rotationprocessing of the image signal in a case where the first relationship isthe same as the second relationship.
 2. An apparatus according to claim1, wherein said input means comprises reading means for reading theoriginal image, and forming the image signal.
 3. An apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein said processing means comprises memory means forstoring the image signal, and control means for controlling write accessand read access of the image signal of said memory means.
 4. Anapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means furtherperforms enlargement or reduction processing of the image signal.
 5. Anapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the length of the original imageis obtained by measuring a time when the document fed by said documentfeeding means passes a predetermined position.
 6. An image processingapparatus comprising:input means for inputting an image signalrepresenting an original image and for inputting an information signalrelating to a spatial position of the original image; memory means forstoring the image signal and the information signal input by said inputmeans; recording means for reading the image signal and the informationsignal out of said memory means and for recording an image representedby the image signal on a recording medium on the basis of theinformation signal; control means for controlling an access to saidmemory means regarding the image signal and the information signal so asto control whether the image signal is rotation processed.
 7. Anapparatus according to claim 6, wherein said input means comprisesreading means for reading the original image, and forming the imagesignal.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control meanscontrols write or read access of the image signal of said memory meansso as to further perform enlargement or reduction processing of theimage signal.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein theinformation signal input by said input means represents a color of animage to be recorded by said recording means.
 10. An apparatus accordingto claim 7, wherein the information signal input by said input meanscorresponds to pixel information represented by the image signal.
 11. anapparatus according to claim 7, wherein said control means controlswrite access or read access of the image signal and the informationsignal of said memory means so as to control whether the original imageis rotation processed.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 7, furthercomprising first determining means for determining a relationshipbetween a length and breadth of the original image, and seconddetermining means for determining a relationship between a length andbreadth of the recording medium, wherein said control means controls thewrite access or read access of the image signal and the informationsignal of said memory means in accordance with determinations made bysaid first determining means and said second determining means.
 13. Anapparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control means controls thewrite access or read access of the image signal and the informationsignal of said memory means so as to perform rotation processing of theimage signal in a case where a relationship between a length and breadthof the original image is different from a relationship between a lengthand breadth of the recording medium, and does not perform rotationprocessing of the image signal in a case where the relationship is thesame.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the informationsignal relating to the spatial position indicates respective colorinformation of the image signal mapped correspondingly to pluralpositions on the original image.
 15. An image processing apparatuscomprising:input means for inputting an image signal representing anoriginal image; first determining means for determining a firstrelationship between a length and a breadth of the original image, thefirst relationship being dependent upon whether the length of theoriginal image is longer than the breadth of the original image;processing means for performing image processing of the image signalinput from said input means; recording means for recording an image on arecording medium on the basis of the image signal subjected to the imageprocessing by said processing means; and second determining means fordetermining a second relationship between a length and a breadth of therecording medium, the second relationship being dependent upon whetherthe length of the recording medium is longer than the breadth of therecording medium, wherein said processing means performs imageprocessing in accordance with determinations made by said firstdetermining means and said second determining means, and wherein saidprocessing means performs variable magnification of the original imagein a direction of the length or breadth of the original image andperforms rotation processing of the image signal in the case where thefirst relationship is different from the second relationship.
 16. Anapparatus according to claim 15, wherein said input means comprisesreading means for reading the original image and for forming the imagesignal.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said processingmeans comprises memory means for storing the image signal, and controlmeans for controlling write access and read access of the image signalof said memory means.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 15, whereinsaid processing means further performs enlargement processing orreduction processing of the image signal.
 19. An apparatus according toclaim 16, wherein said processing means performs variable magnificationof the original image by controlling said reading means.
 20. An imageprocessing apparatus comprising:input means for inputting an imagesignal representing an original image; means for determining arelationship between length and breadth of the original image;processing means for processing the image signal input by said inputmeans; recording means for recording an output image on a recordingmedium on the basis of the image signal processed by said processingmeans; and means for determining a relationship between length andbreadth of the recording medium; wherein each relationship is dependentupon whether the length is longer than the breadth, and wherein saidprocessing means, in a first mode, performs rotation processing of theimage signal in accordance with the two determined relationships so thatthe two relationships conform with each other, and wherein saidprocessing means, in a second mode, does not perform rotation processingof the image signal regardless of the two relationships.
 21. Anapparatus according to claim 20, wherein said input means comprisesreading means for reading the original image and for forming the imagesignal.
 22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said processingmeans comprises memory means for storing the image signal, and controlmeans for controlling write access and read access of the image signalof said memory means.
 23. An apparatus according to claim 20, whereinsaid processing means further performs enlargement processing orreduction processing of the image signal.
 24. An image processing methodcomprising:a document feeding step of feeding a document; an input stepof inputting an image signal representing an original image of thedocument; a first determining step of determining a first relationshipbetween a length and a breadth of the original image by feeding thedocument in said document feeding step, the first relationship beingdependent upon whether the length of the original image is longer thanthe breadth of the original image; a processing step for processing theimage signal input in said input step; a recording step of recording animage on a recording medium on the basis of the image signal processedin said processing step; and a second determining step of determining asecond relationship between a length and a breadth of the recordingmedium, the second relationship being dependent upon whether the lengthof the recording medium is longer than the breadth of the recordingmedium, wherein in said processing step, rotation processing of theimage signal is performed in accordance with determinations made in saidfirst determining step and said second determining step, such thatrotation processing of the image signal is performed in a case where thefirst relationship is different from the second relationship, and is notperformed in a case where the first relationship is the same as thesecond relationship.
 25. An image processing method comprising:an inputstep of inputting an image signal representing an original image andinputting an information signal relating to a spatial position of theoriginal image; a storing step of storing the image signal and theinformation signal input in said input step in a memory; a recordingstep of reading the image signal and the information signal out of thememory and recording an image represented by the image signal on arecording medium on the basis of the information signal; and a controlstep of controlling an access to said memory regarding the image signaland the information signal so as to control whether the image signal isrotation processed.
 26. An image processing method comprising:an inputstep of inputting an image signal representing an original image; aprocessing step for processing the image signal in said input step; afirst determining step of determining a first relationship between alength and a breadth of a recording medium, the first relationship beingdependent upon whether the length of the recording medium is longer thanthe breadth of the recording medium; a recording step of recording animage on the recording medium on the basis of the image signal processedin said processing step; and a second determining step of determining arelationship between a length and a breadth of the original image, thesecond relationship being dependent upon whether the length of theoriginal image is longer than the breadth of the original image, whereina said processing step, image processing is performed in accordance withdeterminations made in said first determining step and said seconddetermining step, and wherein in said processing step, variablemagnification of the original image in a direction of a length or abreadth is performed and rotation processing of the image signal isperformed in the case the first relationship is different from thesecond relationship.
 27. An image processing method comprising the stepsof:an input step of inputting an image signal representing an originalimage; a determining step of determining a relationship between lengthand breadth of the original image; a processing step for processing theimage signal input in said input step; a recording step of recording anoutput image on a recording medium on the basis of the image signalprocessed in said processing step; and a determining step of determininga relationship between length and breath of the recording medium;wherein each relationship is dependent unon whether the length is longerthan the breath, and wherein in said processing step, in a first mode,rotation processing of the image signal is performed in accordance withthe two relationships so that the two relationships conform with eachother and wherein in said processing step, in a second mode, therotation processing of the image signal is not performed regardless ofthe two relationships.